What is a fiber optic adapter

What is a fiber optic adapter

Fiber optic connectors are the most widely used optical passive components in fiber optic communication systems. Most fiber optic connectors consist of three parts: two fiber optic connectors and a coupler. Two fiber optic connectors fit into the two fiber ends; the coupler acts as an alignment sleeve. In addition, couplers are mostly equipped with metal or non-metal flanges to facilitate the installation and fixation of connectors.

Fiber optic adapter type

According to the different fiber optic connectors, fiber optic adapters can provide adapter parts corresponding to the fiber optic connectors. Applicable fiber optic connector models are

FC: FC is the abbreviation of FERRULE CONNECTOR, indicating that its exterior is a metal sleeve, and the fastening method is a turnbuckle. In the beginning, the FC type connector was a mating end with ceramic pins. This type of connector is simple in structure, convenient in operation and easy to manufacture, but the fiber end is more sensitive to dust, and is prone to Fresnel reflection, making it difficult to improve return loss performance. Later, this type of connector adopts the contact pin (PC) with spherical end face, but the external structure has not changed, so that the performance of insertion loss and return loss has been greatly improved.

SC: Its shell is rectangular, and the structure and dimensions of the pins and coupling sleeves used are exactly the same as those of the FC type. Among them, the end faces of the pins are mostly ground by PC or APC; The advantages of this type of connector are that it is cheap, easy to plug and unplug, small fluctuation in insertion loss, high compressive strength, and high installation density.

LC: Made with an easy-to-operate modular jack latch mechanism. The size of the pins and sleeves used is half the size of ordinary SC, FC, etc., which is 1.25MM. This can increase the density of fiber optic connectors in the fiber optic distribution frame.

MTRJ: It has the same latching mechanism as the RJ-45 type LAN electrical connector. The optical fiber is aligned with the guide pins installed on both sides of the small sleeve. In order to facilitate connection with the optical transceiver, the optical fiber on the end face of the connector is double-core. (Interval 0.75MM) arrangement design, is the next generation of high-density fiber optic connectors mainly used for data transmission.

What is a connector

The function of the connector is very simple: it sets up a bridge of communication between the blocked or isolated circuits in the circuit, so that the current flows and the circuit achieves the predetermined function. Connectors are divided into printed circuit connectors, rectangular connectors, ribbon cable connectors, ribbon cable connectors, etc.

The difference between fiber optic adapters and connectors

 The optical fibers are connected by the adapter through the inner opening sleeve to ensure the highest connection performance between the optical fiber jumpers. In order to be fixed on various panels, a variety of fine fixing solutions are also designed. Conversion adapters can be connected to different types of fiber optic patch cord connectors and provide connections between APC end faces. Double or multiple connections can increase the installation density. The optical fiber connector is a detachable connection device between the optical fiber and the optical fiber. It precisely butts the two end faces of the optical fiber, so that the light energy output by the transmitting fiber can be coupled to the receiving fiber to the maximum extent, and make the The impact on the system is minimized due to its involvement in the optical link.